In a move driven by financial considerations, the Kansas City Chiefs have traded two-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, The Associated Press reports, citing sources.
The trade, which frees up significant salary cap space for the Chiefs, comes as the Bears look to bolster their offensive line and better protect their young quarterback, Caleb Williams.
Thuney, 32, was slated to have a cap hit of nearly $27 million next season. The Bears are now expected to pursue a contract extension with the veteran guard, who has started all 146 games in his nine NFL seasons and is a four-time Super Bowl champion (two with the Patriots, two with the Chiefs).
The Bears’ acquisition of Thuney follows their earlier trade to acquire former Pro Bowl offensive guard Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams for a 2025 sixth-round pick. These moves signal a clear commitment by Chicago to improve their offensive line, especially after Williams was sacked an NFL-high 68 times last season.
For the Chiefs, trading Thuney clears approximately $16 million in salary cap space. This financial flexibility will allow them to address other pressing needs, including finding a solution at left tackle – a persistent problem that hindered them in their Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia. They also need to address depth at wide receiver, along the defensive line, and in the defensive backfield.
Kansas City had placed the franchise tag on Pro Bowl offensive guard Trey Smith earlier in the week, effectively making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL next season with a one-year deal worth roughly $23.4 million, unless a long-term agreement is reached. Combined with the four-year, $72 million contract signed by center Creed Humphrey last fall, the Chiefs have a significant portion of their cap space tied up in their interior offensive line.
The Chiefs have several internal options to potentially replace Thuney. Mike Caliendo filled in at guard late last season after Thuney shifted to left tackle due to injuries, while the team also drafted interior lineman Hunter Nourzad last year. However, the most intriguing possibility may be Kingsley Suamataia, a second-round pick from last April, who the Chiefs initially hoped would be a solution at left tackle. After struggling early in the year, the Chiefs experimented with Suamataia at guard, where he reportedly showed promise.
The Chiefs are also expected to prioritize addressing the left tackle position in the upcoming April draft, further solidifying their commitment to protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
